Marijuana ‘grow operations’ found at Ohio slaying sites

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PIKETON, Ohio (April 24, 2016) — Investigators found three marijuana “grow operations” at residences where eight family members were slain in southern Ohio, state Attorney General Mike DeWine said Sunday at a news conference.

He didn’t say whether the marijuana was connected to the execution-style killings, discovered last Friday at four residences in Piketon.

Authorities disclosed few other details about the execution.

According to DeWine, 18 pieces of evidence have been submitted to the crime lab and at least five search warrants have been issued and completed.

Seven of the eight autopsies of members of the Rhoden family have been performed so far, the last one is scheduled for tomorrow, said DeWine.

“This was a preplanned execution of eight individuals,” DeWine said. “It was a sophisticated operation and those who carried it out were trying to do everything they could do to hinder the investigation and their prosecution.”

Pike County Sheriff Charles Reader said he talked to surviving family members.

“I cautioned them they are a target and I cautioned them, ‘Be armed,'” he said.